FAQs

How is HIV passed from one person to another?Answer:HIV transmission can occur when blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, vaginal fluid, or breast milk from an infected person enters the body of an uninfected person.These are the most common ways that HIV is transmitted from one person to another:

By having sex (anal, vaginal, or oral) with an HIV-infected person

By sharing needles or equipment with an injection drug user who is infected with HIV

From HIV-infected women to their babies before or during birth, or through breastfeeding after birth.

How effective are latex condoms in preventing HIV?Answer:Latex condoms, when used consistently and correctly, are highly effective in preventing heterosexual sexual transmission of HIV. It should be noted that condom use cannot provide absolute protection against HIV. The surest way to avoid transmission of HIV is to abstain from sexual intercourse or to be in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and whom you know is uninfected.

How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?Answer:Scientists previously have estimated that about half the people with HIV will develop AIDS within 10 years after becoming infected. However, the length of time it takes for AIDS symptoms to appear varies greatly from person to person, and depends on many factors, including a person's health status and behaviors. Also, advances in drug therapies and other medical treatments are dramatically changing the outlook for people with HIV. As with other diseases, early detection of infection allows for more options for treatment and preventive health care.

Where can I get tested for HIV?Answer:Many places provide testing for HIV infection. Common testing locations include local health departments, clinics, offices of private doctors, hospitals, and other sites set up specifically to provide HIV testing. For information on where to find an HIV testing site. www.ncasc.gov.np/map/

What if I test positive for HIV?Answer:If you test positive for HIV, the sooner you take steps to protect your health, the better. Early medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can help you stay well. Prompt medical care may delay the onset of AIDS and prevent some life-threatening conditions. It is very important to take your HIV medicines exactly as directed. We have better treatments today, and people are living longer and with a better quality of life than ever before. There is much you can do to stay healthy and protect others. Learn all that you can about maintaining good health.

How can I tell if I’m infected with HIV? What are the symptoms?Answer:The only way to know if you are infected is to be tested for HIV infection. You cannot rely on symptoms to know whether or not you are infected. Many people who are infected with HIV do not have any symptoms at all for many years.